Chime attachment for clocks



w. HL ALLEN.

cHlMEIATTAcHMENT FOR CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8. 1919.

1,426,806, Patented Aug. 2.2, 1922.

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' Armen/ffm PATENTS oFiFiii WILLIS TI. f'ALLEN, OF SYRCUS, NEW'YORKJCHIMIE ATTACHMENT FOR'CLOCKS-Lf .To all iii/7mm t may concern.'

Be it lrnown that I, VILLrs H.v ALLEN, of

i Syracuse, in the county of GnOndaga, in the `State of NewYork, haveinvented new and useful Improvements inChime Attachments for Clocks, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to chime attach-fchime mechanism as aunitaryarticle of:y

manufacture capable of being easily and quickly attached to the frame ofa standard form of clock as an extension thereof, so as to operateunderitsown motive power/inde@ pendeiitly of Ythat of the clock, therebyrelieving the clock from any additional load whichmay be necessary `,tooperate thev chimes.

Another object is to'control the operation ofthe chimes by means otescapement mechanism forming a part thereof, and adapted to be releasedat regular predetermined intervals through the medium of a clock actu-vated. tripping device.

A further object is to provide means whereby the periods or continuousoperation of the chimes vary for diierent fractions of each hour oftime, as for example, a relatively short period at the end of the firstquarter, twice that period atA theendofthe second quarter orhalf hour,`three timesthat.

period at `the end oitzthe third quarter, and

,fogirth or last quarter. y

A still further object is to provide means whereby the individual soundproducing dei vices may be operatedin sequence in diiifer-- ontcombinations ifor the several periods.

Other objects yand uses relating to'speciiic parts of the chimingattachment and its controlling means will bebrought out-in the:Following description. y

inthe drawingsh Figure lis a rear elevation of `a standard type of clockframe and train,=showing my improved rchime mechanism attachedSpecification of Letters Patent." i Patented Aug. Applicationled'February'lS, 1919i -Serial No; :277,808.2 I

thereto", and in operative lconnection ,with` the tripping ,device for lthe: escapementl mechanism.

Figure 2* is anV enlarged transverse` Avertical sectional view of the'detached chime mechanism taken on line Q-v-Q, Figure -1-.-`,

and strikers therefor,andalso the hour showingthe vibratory soundproducing-rod" 60,' 1" spindle and hand orn the clock, together with thetripping device forthe esca-pement of f the chime mechanism. Y Figure-,3- is a verticalsectional View taken inthe .plane of line SW3,Figure-2f.

Figure -.4- isa detail sectional viewer` taken `on line lf-4, Figure Q-In order rthatthe applicationiof myinven-v` tion may beclearlyunderstood I have shown portion of `a. standard typeT of clock com-fprising `a main frame-f1, a gearltrain -2 including a minutenshaft andits hand -4-, and spring motors -5-.-, the

.action ofthe clock train by thevmotors being controlled by theusualgovern0r and escapement mec herein illustrate or describe.

.7 51": anism not A.necessary to-- The .chime mechanism whichconstitutes.V

suitable Vframe, t3-f, rigidly secured' by couplings-74-` to the lower.portion yofthe clock frame -1-, soas to constitute an. eX-.f-

tension of the basethereof, `and is adapted l Ito receive and supportagear train 1 8-, .andv av spring motor -9-., an` escapement mechanismland tripping .means therefor, hereinafter described, together rwith aseries .f

of in this instance fourchime bars -`10---,V

strikers i-llf-, and suitable voperating and f controlling mechanismtherefor.4 four times that period` at the end` of theb same forwardlyand rearwardlyv extending ent length gradually 'diminishing rearwardlyfor producing diiferent tones, their lower `ends being rigidly securedto a'suitable `support -12-., whicliin this instance is i clamped bythepivoted `bolt l3*, to the rear plate of` the framei--Gm to permit all yplane, preferably atithe rear of the-frame .-6-, and clock'frame -1--,and of .differ-f tones when struck by. the-.-.hammers, .saidV 901,);1AThe chime bars -11- are disposed in the vchime bars being preferablyinclined upwardly and laterally from their support 12- and are spacedasufticient distance apart to permit their free vibration inclependentlyof each other,ras shown more clearly in Figure -2-.

The heads of the hammers or strikers llare mounted upon separate springarms or wires M so as to engage the chime hars in approximately the samehorizontal plane near the upper ends thereof, the lower ends of thespring wires -llbeing offset laterally and downwardly to form heelextensions -l5-, which are secured in separate rock arms 1G- and areadapted to engage a stop lifor limiting 'the throw of the hammer headstoward the chime bars, and normally holding the strikers slightly out ofcontact therewith, relying upon the resiliency and momentum of thestrikers to strike their respective bars when the strikers are retractedin a manner presently described.

rlhe rock arms -16- are pivoted at -18- to the frame -6- some distanceto one side of the plane of the chime bars nl0-, while the centers ofgravity or weight of the main body of the strikers are between thepivots ml8--- and chime bars to cause the strikers to move under theirown weight toward their striking positions after being retracted.

The means for re'tracting the strikers comprises a series in thisinstance of four coaxial toothed wheels -19-- mounted end to end uponone and the same rotary shaft or spindle -20, one for each striker, eachwheel being provided with a series of peripheral teeth w21 adapted toengage the heel of its corresponding rock arm 16- for operating thecompanion striker one or more times during each revolution of the shaft-20--, the teeth 'of the several wheels being preferably arranged instaggered relation lengthwise of their axis, so as to appear in end viewin uniformly relation circumferentially.

This circumferentially spaced relation of the teeth v-2l-- causessequential or successive operation of the strikers and theircorresponding chime bars or when the same Wheel is provided with morethan one tooth, as shown in Figure 4.-, the operation of thecorresponding striker will be repeated at intervals corresponding` tothe circumferential spacing of the teeth, those of the several wheelsbeing arranged to produce harmonious tones in various sequentialcombinations, but preferably to give distinctive sounds for each quarterof the hour as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The shaft 20- is driven by the gear train Sw and is provided with apinion 22- meshing with a gear -23- which is loosely mounted on a studor bearing 9A- on the rear plate of the frame t3- and to which issecured a coaxial stop wheel *25* for rotation therewith.

The stop wheel m25wis provided with a plurality of in this instance fourperipheral notches CL-- bm flspaced gradually increasing` distancesapart from the first notch -ain a direction opposite to that of itsrotation, as indicated by the arrow Xt-1 Figure 3 and eorrespending` ineffect to the first -quarter, second quarter, third quarter, and. lastquarter of each hour of time respectively.

That is, the space between the notch @J- is the shortest, while thelength of the remaining spaces successively are in the proportion of 2,3, and 4itimes as long as the first named space, and serve in a mannerpresently described to vary the periods of continuous operation of thechimes for the several fractions of the hour as above outlined.

A pawl or detent 2(5* is pivoted at 27- to the frame -6- to rock intoand out of engagement of the notches a 7)- c and -cZ- against the actionof a retracting spring WQSM, and when engaged. in either said notchesserves to hold the entire gear train at rest against the action of themotor -9*.

Suitable clock aetuateijl means is provided for tripping the detent -26-at the end of each quarter hour, and for this purpose is provided atripping lever -29- pivoted at -30- to the frame -6--, and having oneend extended upwardly through the clock :traine -l-- to a point inproximity to the minute shaft --3-- of the clock, said shaft being`provided with; a cam or tripping wheel n31- having a plurality of inthis instance four arms -32- spared uniform distances of substantially900 apart cireumferentially, and adapted to successively engage anoff-set "33- at the upper end of the tripping lever --29-, as the camwheel "-531-M is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow --Y-,Figure wil.

This tripping lever 29 extends across the detent -QGH between its pointof engagement with a notched wheel 24,-- and pivot -27-- and is providedwith a lateral off-set 3% directly under a curved cam portion -35- ofthe detent so that when the tripping lever -29 is rocked about its pivotw30- by one of the arms -SZ-vof the cam wheel 3ld the off-set -3-lwillride against the cam portion 3. 1- and trip the detent 2(3- from holdingengagement in either notch of the wheel -24l-, thereby permitting saidwheel to be rotated by the motor --9- through the medium of the geartrain -SW of which the pinion v22- and gear -23- forms a part.

In order that the detent -2G may operate freely without excessivefriction with rthe saine rock shaft or pivot -274 to'mov'esimultaneously with said detent ``-26y y The "free end ofthesupplemental detent #B8- is oit-set downwardly and iiorn'iallyvr` restsin the path' of and against the' pin HBS- `when tlie'detent p26 Aisinone or the 'ethernet/ches of the Wheel-Q-, as

shown in` Figure so that when the tripping lever -29- is operated by theca m Wheel `-31- of `the clock'mechanism it Will simultaneously topermit the operation 'of the gear train -Sf by the motorHQ-*or operatingthe striker controlling Wheels -l9 y i A The speedot movement oitthegear train 5--l is controlled by `a vgovernor *B9-f kWhile relativeratios oi' companion gears are 'such that the movement of the gear `23-and its notched disc or Wheel -25- is relatively sloiv ascompa-red.Withthat of the vgear 3T- carrying the stop pin -3G`, and inorderto avoid any possibility ot reeiitrance of the detent QS-intotlie`same notch from Which it has `inst previously been Withdrawn by theoperation oit the lever -29-., lhave provided a catch lever ,--iOv whichin this instance is a continuation of the tripping lever '-29-, andsecured to the Asamerock shaft or pivot 3 the i'ree'end fot s-aidcatchlever being provided with an upturned stop shoulder -flllwhich ismovable into the path of thestop pin 3G- simultaneously Withthe beenmoved a slightv butsul'lici'ent distance :beyond the engaging point ofthe detent 426* to prevent re-entrance ot the latter into the notchimmediately following releasey of the tripping lever 429. v i i A ltwill be observed that `imniediately upon the passage ofthe point ofeither oi the arms B2- beyond the oil-set end 33M of said lever, allowssaid lever vto return toits starting position, shovvn by full lines,Figure which in turn rocksthe jcatch lever p-elO-` from its holdingposition, v and thereby frees the ydetente 26- and It is evident thatthese detents cannot return to their normal position unt-il the nextsucceeding notch --Ziis regislt'eied with the i'ree end oi? the detent'-2'6- by reason ofthe fact that it rides upon the periphery ot theWheel --254-7 between said `notches,`but when the notch #-5- isregistered with the free end of the detent -'26-, the latter Will dropther'eintoto stop "further movement ot the gear train S-.

During this operation of the gear train the toothed Wheels Fm19- serveto operate the strikers ilagainst their respective chime bars ``l`0 toproduce the desired tones.

`levers -38-- and -lO- and stop pini-S-i `since itisfbelieved to hepossible to continue` the entire operation ot the strikers at the propertime and vfor' the desired `)eriod throu'h the medium'ol1the'det'ent-26- andtripping lever as the `later is controlled bythe cam Wheel-lofthe clocl; mechanism. i y

Since the cam Wheel is rotated one complete revolution' each hour andits arms 3Q- k are spaced equally apar-tit is evident that the trippinglever -29- will be operated once each quarter hour, thus permitting theloperation ot the geartrainand Vchimes at the endet each of thoseintervalsu and in order thatthe chimes ioi one interval may bedistinguished from those `increasing distancesbetween the'notehes inl,the periphery oi the'disc or Wheel at Which ktime the notoh 2* willhave' tuated Wheel H31* is in the position shown in Figure with theminutel hand iiidicating'the hour, at which time the detent-Q- will. beiii the notch -a`-, then as cam wheel fih continues to ro tate onthrough its first quarter turn in` the direction indicated by 'arrow Y,theA yarm -32--- adjacent to the lever 29- will ai'iect the movement ofsaid `lever a suiiicientdistance to trip the detent m26- but not untilapproximately the end oi? the wirst quarter turn o' the cam'ivheel,loe-A causethe arms -`32` are so arranged with reference to the shoulder--33- on the lever `-29 to cause but a very slight movement For exampleassuminothat the clock aciio the detent 2G- the chime mechanism is setin motion by the motor -9- and continues its operation until the nextsucceeding notch is registered with the detent, which will then enterthat notch and temporarily stop further the rotation of the gear train-S- and chimes until again tripped by the nent succeedii'ig arm of thecam wheel at the end of the next quarter hour, it being understood aftercach tripping operation the lever -29- is restored to its normalposition shown by full lines, Figure -8-- The space between the notchesFb* and -cbeing substantially twice the length of the space between the-a- 2%, it is evident that the chimes will be operated continuously fora period twice as long` as the first operation.

In like manner the chimes will be operated at the third and last quarterof the hour, the continued operation at the end of the third quarterbeing for a period three times as long as that of the end of the firstquarter, while that for the fourth and last quarter will be for a periodfour times as long as that for the first quarter, and at the end of thelast quarter the detent #Q6- will have entered the notch 6L- thuscompleting the cycle of operation of the chimes for one hour, which isrepeated for each hour so that the length of time of operation of thechimes audibly indicates the quarter, half, three-quarters, and hour foreach hour of time of the day.

l.` A chime attachment for clocks comprising an upright frame having itsupper end provided with means for attachment to the lower' end of aclock frame, a charm-bar support on the first named frame near the lowerend thereof, a series of chime bars secured at their lower ends to saidsupport and extending upwardly some distance above the upper end of thefirst named frame, strikers, one for each bar mounted on the first namedframe and extending upwardly along their respective charm bars forstriking the same, rotary actuators, one for each striker, motor drivenmeans separate from the clock for rotating and controlling saidactuators and including a stop wheel and an cscapement wheel, a rockshaft having` a pair of pawls movable therewith into and out ofengagement with the stop wieel and the escapement wheel respectively, anadditional rock shaft having a tripping' lever adapted to be engaged andoperated by a cam wheel on the minute spindle of the clock, saidadditional shaft being provided with a pawl movable into and out ofengagen'ient with the escapement wheel, and means on the tripping leverfor engaging and tripping one of the first named pawls and thereby torock the first named shaft for tripping the other of the first namedpawls.

2. A chime attachment for clocks comprising an upright frame having itsupper end provided with means for attachment to the lower end of a clockframe, a charm-bar support on the first named frame near the lower endthereof, a series of chime bars secured at their lower ends to saidsupport and extending upwardly some distance above the upper end of thefirst named frame, strikers7 one for each bar mounted on the first namedframe and extending upwardly along` their respective charm bars forstriking the same, rotary actuators, one for each striker, motor drivenmeans separate from the clock for rotating said actuators, said meansincluding a stop wheel and an escapement wheel, a tripping lever adaptedto be operated by a cam wheel on the minute spindle of the clock andprovided with a pawl cooperating with the eseapement wheel forcontrolling the operation of the motor driven chime actuators, a detentcooperating with the stop wheel to additionally control the operation ofsaid chime actuators, means on the tripping lever for operating thedetent, a rock shaft actuated by said detent, and an additional pawlactuated by the rock shaft and cooperating with the escapement wheel tofurther control the operation of the chime actuators.

3. The combination of a clock mechanism having its minute spindleprovided with a cam wheel, and a supporting frame for the clockmechanism, of a chime operating mechanism and a separate supportingupright frame therefor having its upper end provided with means forattachment to the lower end of the clock frame, said chime mechanismincluding an escapement wheel, a charm-bar support mounted on the secondnamed frame, charm bars secured at their lower ends to said support andextending upwardly some distance above the second named frame, and apawl fulcrumed on the second named frame and having one end cooperatingwith the escapement wheel to control the operation of the chimeactuating mechanism and its other end projecting into the path ofmovements of the cams of the cam wheel.

4. The combination with a clock mechanism having an upright frame, aminute spindle and a cam on the minute spindle, of a supplementalupright frame having means at its upper end for attachment to the lowerend of the clock frame, a vertically adjustable charm-bar supportmounted on the supplemental frame near the lower end thereof, charm barssecured at their lower ends to said support and extending upwardly somedistance above the supplemental frame,

strikers pvotally mounted on the supple- 1n Witness whereof IV havehereunto set mental frame, a motor on the supplemenal ymy hand this 15thday of February 1919.

frame, mechanism actuated by the motor "on 7 operating the strkerg andmeans controlled W ILLIS H' ALLEN 5 by the cam-Wheel on the minutespindle for Vtnesses.:

controlling the operation ofthe striker-op HOWARD P DEbIIsobny eratngmechanism. J. M. MCNAMARL

